te: 1863 The Surrender]

9 A. M. orders came stating that at 10 A. M. the enemy were to march
out, stack arms on the outside of their works and return as prisoners of
war. What glorious news--the men all in ecstasy too great for cheers.
At the appointed hour white rags were stuck all along their line, which
were hailed with cheers from one end of the line to the other.
Commanding officers and staff rode out first, making the formal
surrender, after which all the troops formed in line and marched out,
colors flying, stacked their arms, equipments and colors, marching back
under their officers. Commissioned officers were allowed to retain their
side-arms. In the meantime our bands, which had been silent for so long,
struck up "Hail Columbia" etc., which affected the troops as an electric
shock, and they saluted with deafening cheers. As the last of the rebs
went in, General Grant and staff with body-guards, entered the tent.
Guards were stationed on breastworks and the surrendered prisoners
permitted to run at large.

So Vicksburg, the pet of the Confederacy has fallen, and that too, on
the most glorious day of the whole year, and long to be remembered by
the soldier boy who spent his Fourth there. He was happy, but still he
turned with longing eyes and wishful heart to the North. There was a
void there, a vacancy which triumphs and which military victory could
not fill, his home, never forgotten. I ended my Fourth on guard,
hopefully.

Vicksburg, Sunday, July 5. We were momentarily expecting marching
orders, while I wrote two letters, but at last we were told to prepare
to march at 4 P. M., and at the appointed hour all was packed up, horses
hitched up and ready. We entered Vicksburg in front of Carr's original
line, and after many halts among the broken ravines, amongst butternuts
swarming on every side, we came into battery of five yards intervals in
a little knoll, after dark.

A WELL-EARNED REST

Vicksburg, Monday, July 6. To-day we lay waiting all day for orders to
hitch up to go into permanent park, but for some reason or other they
did not come, and we were exposed to the burning sun all day, but well
amused, strolling over the scarred surface of Vicksburg, plowed
everywhere by raking shot and bursting shell, exploring the extensive
caves inhabited by the citizens during the siege, but now deserted, and
they once more were not afraid to walk in God's sunlight. Received mail.

Vicksburg, Tuesday,